160 THE BUNTINGS 



of Europe, with the exception of North Scandinavia and Russia, and the three penin- 

 sulas of Southern Europe (the Spanish, Italian, and Balkan). Birds from parts 

 of East Russia and Western Asia appear to differ slightly in throat coloration 

 from the ordinary western form. In the British Isles it is a common resident 

 almost everywhere, except in the Shetlands. [F. c. R. J.] 



3. Migration. There is an October and November immigration, and a 

 return spring emigration on the east coast of Great Britain, but our breeding 

 birds appear to be stationary except for local movements of the small flocks that 

 are formed in winter. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place : usually on or near the ground in hedge 

 bottoms, bushes, gorse, or on banks, but has occasionally been found 5 to 7 feet 

 above the ground in bushes, haystacks, or wall fruit-trees. This is, of course, 

 quite exceptional. Nest : built of grasses, bents, a little moss, and occasion- 

 ally a few leaves, and neatly lined with horse-hair. (PL vi.) It is built by both 

 sexes, but chiefly by the hen. The eggs are often only 3 in number, sometimes 

 4 or 5, while sets of 6 are said to have been found once or twice in England. They 

 are generally pale purplish white, pencilled with interlacing hair lines and streaks 

 of dark brown, with a few violet shell markings. Some varieties are dead white, 

 others have a faintly or decidedly rufous ground. (PI. B.) Average size of 100 

 eggs, '83 x '62 in. [21 - 2 x 15'9 mm.]. Laying begins in April and May. Incubation 

 is performed by both sexes, but chiefly by the hen, and lasts 13-14 days. Two or 

 even three broods may be reared, as eggs have been found from late in April to 

 August and even September. [F. c. R. j.] 



5. Food. The seeds of cereals, grasses, chickweeds, polygona, etc., form the 

 principal part of the food of this species. In summer the adults themselves eat 

 many insects, as well as feeding their young on them, to which, according to Bailly, 

 they add later macerated seeds (Ornith. de la Savoie). This task is performed by 

 both sexes. In autumn berries and other fruits are taken to some extent, and in 

 severe winter weather a flock of these birds has been recorded as feeding on the 

 carcase of a horse (cf. H. Saunders, III. Man. Brit. B., 1899, p. 210). [A. L. T.] 



6. Song Period. According to observations by A. Hepburn, the species 

 sings from the second week in February to the third week in August (Zoologist, 

 1845, p. 1068), and occasionally later, according to the same authority quoted by 

 Macgillivray. From February to August is also the period given by Ussher and 

 Warren (B. of Ireland, p. 76). It has been heard in September by Mr. F. C. R. 

 Jourdain. [F. B. K.] 



